PCM

Give some people an inch....

Did you see the hit? Because I don't undertand how you could have seen the hit and still make such a statement.

Which comes back to the original and most important point. I recognize that players make mistakes, that bad things happen because of bad luck and that hockey is a physical game. I don't believe that Paukovich intended to hurt Bina. But I also recognize that there's a reason the game has rules. And if you don't enforce the rules, you don't have much of a game.

You're right. There was no thought involved. And that's the problem.

Here are some interesting quotes from Paukovich and Gwozdeckey in a Jan. 27 article in the Rocky Mountain News. ------------------------ -------------------------

You just described something that probably happens dozens of times each game and thousands of times each season without players being drilled head-first into the boards and having their necks broken. The problem wasn't the circumstances. The problem was the thoughtless act of a player who took advantage of another player in a vulnerable position.

Maybe they should have left the space blank, just like Woog did.

Blais might do that, but he was always one of the few coaches who spoke frankly about the officiating when he was a coach. Where did that get him? If the WCHA ignored him then, why would it pay attention to him now?

You're exactly right. I wish people would stop turning it into an issue of individual teams or players. The problem is caused by a deep-rooted culture in the WCHA and its leadership that believes it's doing a good job of officiating. That's what needs to change. Pointing fingers at other players or other teams accomplishes nothing.

Free spiked water? Now I'll have to go next year!

Here's the story from today's Herald that explains the practice situation at the REA. Here's another article that talks about Bina having surgery today.

Dave Hakstol was on the radio this morning with Tim Hennessy and Scott Swygman. Here's a summary of the discussion: DH: We played very well. It sure would have been nice to get a bounce and get the overtime win. All in all, it was a good weekend. SS: I was impressed how you dominated third periods against Denver and Minnesota DH: It shows that the guys are in good shape. They

Here's the lesson: When your coach tells you to get off your butt and start playing, say, "But why?"

I, too, was amazed by the lack of any call whatsoever on that play.

If they don't, the NCAA will do it for them. And that will be messy.

You see, this is the problem. A coach is supposed to start out wet behind the ears and then dry off as time goes by. But by her own admission, forecheck is doing it backwards! In contrast, I'm so dry behind the ears that the humidity drops 50 percent everywhere I go.

The difference is, the Sioux are used to it. This is a team that's battled injuries, bad breaks, bad news and bad luck all season long. And yet if you look at the posts from BU and BC fans on USCHO, few of them are confident about playing UND. I can't imagine that DU, CC, Minnesota and Wisconsin would be too thrilled at the prospect, either. Yes, the Sioux are bruised, bloodied and battered, and the opposition wants no part of them. UND is the wounded bear in the tournament.

I agree. It might have been funny at first, but now that more information about the seriousness of the situation has come out, it's classless to continue beating up on the kid.

And then there was last night's very obvious and very dangerous elbow to Luke Flughum's head by a CC player. That should have been a major. Instead, no call. I'm guessing that the NCAA had these types of incidents in mind in its open letter to the hockey community which stated:

Forecheck should be fired!

Good job once again, John. Thanks!

You are a true Sioux fan, jojordan23, and a credit to America. Be careful over there. I'll be thinking about you until about you. Please let us know when you return safely.